MVC Approves Smart-Growth Apartments for Downtown Vineyard Haven

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission determined on Thursday that a proposed affordable housing project near the busy Five Corners intersection in Vineyard Haven would not contribute to traffic problems or have other adverse affects on the community.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the project, which is being developed by the Island Housing Trust and will include six one-bedroom apartments. The housing trust must still submit a landscape plan, architectural details and other documents to the land use planning committee (a subcommittee of the MVC) before it can be issued a building permit.

Commissioner Linda Sibley acknowledged that the project was still “a conceptual thing that hasn’t been pinned down,” but believed that enough details were in place for the commission to make a decision.

On its website, the housing trust describes its proposal for a “transit-oriented apartment building” at 6 Water street. The design does not include space for tenant parking, but does include a drop-off area big enough for one car. The commission saw that as a benefit to an already congested part of town. They pointed out that tenants will live within easy walking distance of a grocery store, a rental car company, the Vineyard Haven bus terminal and other amenities.

The six apartments will be restricted to households earning less than 80 per cent of the area median income (less than 60 per cent if more funding is available). Median income for a family in Dukes County is about $86,000, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The project was reviewed by the commission as a development of regional impact (DRI). Several town boards, business owners and Island residents submitted letters of support to the commission during the review period, which began in June.

Tisbury town administrator John W. Grande sent a letter on July 10 endorsing the project as an example of smart-growth development. “Potential places of employment, shopping and services are within easy walking distance of the residences,” he wrote. “The proposal also provides housing at a scale and density consistent with the traditional village development pattern in Vineyard Haven.”

On Thursday and at earlier meetings, the commission looked at such issues as wastewater disposal, open space, lighting, aesthetics and economic impact as they related to the proposal. In almost every case they envisioned the changes as having a neutral or positive effect on the community.

Commissioner Joan Malkin supported the project, but pointed out that it would result in the loss of open space. “This is a great project, but I do not agree that open space is one of the plusses,” she said. “There was a ton of it before.”

The absence of family housing options was also a concern. The units are not intended for families, said Mrs. Sibley. “But if a couple is there . . . and they have a baby, they are not going to get kicked out.” However, “the rules don’t allow you to have an extra bedroom,” she said. “So [the apartments] are not going to put kids in the school.”

Commissioner Christina Brown objected to the idea of housing that doesn’t allow for kids. “We have great schools, we have room in our schools, we have a good tax base,” she said. “Having no kids in the schools is not a benefit.” The commission anticipated that the overall tax impact would be neutral.

More than once during the review process, commissioner Clarence (Trip) Barnes advocated for expanding the proposal to include more than six units. “In all seriousness, I don’t see why you don’t do seven or eight if you can fit them down there,” he said on June 14. But housing trust director Philippe Jordi said the number of units already had been increased from five to six because state guidelines had indicated that the original five were too big.

Mr. Barnes made one more attempt on Thursday, moving to condition the proposal to include eight, rather than six, units. “I just think that this thing could be put on hold until we put eight in there,” he said. “Here is our classic opportunity.”

But other commissioners believed that altering the number of units would require reopening the public hearing, since the original plan was for only six units. “It was not left in the mind of the public that there possibly could be a substantial change to this plan,” Mrs. Sibley said.

Mr. Barnes voted in favor of the proposal, but went on record as saying he would prefer to see eight units.

The housing trust used a $20,000 grant awarded by Tisbury’s Community Preservation Act Committee last year to design the project. It hopes to complete the permitting process by this fall so that it can apply for further state and local funding.

Getting rid of that nasty looking and messy boat project which still isnt done after three years is a great start! That Boch property looks like a beautiful national park now and I am sure he will spruce it up especially after what he just went thu trying to help somebody out!
Hopefully the selectmen will start getting their stuff together as they seem to have different agendas than those of us who are into the beautification of our town!

to put affordable housing at 5 corners is just foolish. just foolish.. why not build house boats and house them in the lagoon? 5 corners floods to no end during heavy rain,especially right around that old house. Is this the safest place to have young families with children? How embarrassing that this is the best we can come up with when we think of helping others who are less fortunate then ourselves. Mere scraps from the "Vineyard Table". trees ,benches, picnic tables, that is all its good for. foot traffic.

I don't see how the covenants that the IHT puts in the ground leases hold any water. They don't now for some of the neighborhoods that are affordable projects. There is sub leasing going on and jamming more than one family or just additional people into others. They won't be able to control this pet project. This is not the best use of the property and puts more of a burden on the town and the people using Water Street and 5 corners. People living there WILL have cars and will cram everything else that comes with home ownership onto that property. The houses at the roundabout have boats, jet skis and motorcycles. Not begrudging anything for anyone, just saying that what IHT claims can't be controlled.

Another feel good project that is going to further burden poorly designed 5 corners, have its covenants abused, and in the end increase our taxes.
A roundabout for five corners would a be a real inventfull, all encompassing project that would increase retail activity throughout Tisbury and allow (thru increased tax revenues) for a larger, safer, low income housing project with room for children, parking, and even playgrounds in a less dense area of our community.

Thank you for your thoughts and comments. The input we've receive over the past year has helped inform and improve our design for the Water Street Apartments.
The six Water Street Apartments are designed to serve islanders with critical rental housing needs who don't necessarily need a car. Residents can easily walk to work, stories, services, and public transportation (VTA & SSA). Those who choose to own a car can pay to park at the Park & Ride or at the town's former fire station across the street. There are many examples of in-town apartments in Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, and Edgartown that have limited or no parking, yet serve an important role for our year-round residents and island community.
Serviced by public water and sewer, Water Street has been designated as a "highly suitable" area for exactly this type of higher density housing. The recent MV Housing Needs Assessment cites the growing need for individuals and couples who are starting-off and have limited incomes and seniors living on fixed incomes to be able to rent one-bedroom apartments affordably. Built within the 100-year floodplain on pilings five feet above the grade, the three first floor apartments will be served by a ramp and will be fully handicapped accessible.
The Dukes County Regional Housing Authority, who has decades of experience providing property management services for their eight properties across the island with over 60 rental apartments, will be providing property management services 24/7 for the Water Street Apartments.
Over the past eight years, Island Housing Trust has built plenty of single family and duplex houses across the Island in less developed areas, including three rental apartments back in the woods of West Tisbury that are scheduled to be completed this September. Every location has its opportunities and challenges. We believe the Water Street Apartments are an example of how thoughtful, well designed housing solutions can compliment our neighborhoods and help address the critical need for affordable housing island-wide.

I think putting an apartment building at busy 5 corners is the worst idea I have heard yet. I cannot imagine anyone living in the midst of that traffic congestion. What is this building going to look like? How tall will the building be? Where will tenants park their cars? 5 Corners is NOT a residential area. I cannot believe this idea has been approved.